During an unseasonably warm November afternoon, Michele Rossio and Anastasia Wojcik walk the construction site that will soon be the new Haverhill Elementary School.
A contractor polishes the stone floor while sparks fly from a welder upstairs. Others work on ductwork, paint drywall and fit piping in the ceiling of what will eventually be learning spaces for students.
As leaders in the architectural and construction firms working on new elementary schools at Portage Public Schools, the pair are responsible for ensuring the dream of a new school on paper becomes reality in brick and mortar.
They frequent the job site to see first-hand how the building design is being constructed in real life. Their jobs require flexibility and the ability to bounce between tasks.
They problem-solve. They make decisions and brainstorm solutions.
The construction of a new elementary school requires the talents of dozens of different types of careers. As project manager working for Owen-Ames-Kimball Co., Anastasia coordinates the contractors, tracks the financials and oversees the job sites as they progress from foundation work to painting and lighting and beyond.
People often see a construction site and think solely of the physical labor, but there are a multitude of career options that exist behind the scenes to take a “napkin sketch” and create a school building.
“As the project manager, I’m not swinging the hammer – I just get to help put all those bits and pieces together,” Anastasia said. “It’s exciting to come to a job site every day and watch so many different connecting parts finally click into place.”
Michele, the senior project coordinator for TowerPinkster architectural firm, coordinates the documentation phasing of the projects, working to create final drawings and specifications.
The buildings that will soon house students and staff all first begin as initial drawings on paper, Michele said. Next, architects work with various types of engineers to create a building that is not only beautiful but structurally sound.
Constructing a new school from creating schematics to erecting walls is like playing with Legos, Michele said. When you buy your box of Legos, you see a photo on the front of what you’re trying to create, she said.
“The architects and designers, they’re the ones that do the really cool imagination of what the building is supposed to look like,” Michele said. “Next, you open the Lego box and get your booklet of instructions – I’m the person who puts the booklet together to instruct the contractors on how to construct the building.”
Michele was 18 years old and in her first drafting class at Kalamazoo Valley Community College when she knew she wanted to pursue this career. Nearly three decades later working with Tower Pinkster, Michele’s talents in architectural design have been part of building projects at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency and in other states.
For Anastasia, the path to walking construction sites in a hard hat and safety vest as a project manager was a little less straight.
She came to work at OAK three years ago after working in project management in the robotics industry. But, regardless of industry, jobs such as project management are great career opportunities for students.
“It’s amazing what college prepares you for, but it’s the experience that you gain while working that truly helps,” Michele said. “So many firms and companies will help you gain that experience on the job.”
Haverhill and Central elementary schools are the first schools to be built from the 2021 Building the Future of Elementary Learning Bond. Both schools are scheduled to open in fall 2025.
Michele and Anastasia’s work continues next at the new Woodland Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.